The dress. The books. The coffee flask. We’re packed and ready.
Ultra-absorbent, quick-drying, and lightweight, this Towel Shack Safari Towel is your perfect adventure companion. R479 from yuppiechef.com
We’re all about dressing the part. Love this elegant, classic, khaki safari shirt dress. Concealed buttons, a detachable waist tie, pockets (essential!) … it’s everything you want on a bush holiday. R3150 from frankiandremi.com
When you’re living out of a suitcase, or in a tent, you need to be super organised. We can’t travel without our packing pods … a super efficient way to organise our travel essentials. Wild Coolers has a set of three sized pods to store small items like socks and undies, to larger items like sweaters or leggings. Camo green or sea blue, R995 from wildcoolers.com
Hooded Vulture. Necrosyrtes monachus. Bird that tugs at corpses and resembles a monk. What’s in a name? As birding grows in popularity, more and more people are beginning to appreciate that birds carry not only ecological significance but represent unique stories, embedded in the names they’ve been given. A bird lover from an early age, Eddie Germiquet painstakingly researched historic explorer accounts, indigenous names, ancient mythologies and early science writings as a personal project … an endeavour that became South African Birds by Name.
This fascinating book provides insight into the origins and meanings of these ‘scientific’ names, mostly rooted in Greek and Latin, helping readers to make sense of the species they are looking at. Where a name derives from a physical attribute of the bird, he has drawn a captivating illustration to depict it. Names deriving from explorers, biologists and other historical figures are also explained, uncovering some fascinating histories. This book is not only a companion for ornithologists and birders, but also a delightful source of discovery for new twitchers. R400, Struik Nature
It’s crushable, so you can squeeze it into your bag. It‘s UPF50+ endorsed. So perfect for mid- day bush walks. It’s adjustable, hand washable, and has a classic design. Oh … and it’s unisex, so you can let your boyfriend borrow it. The Durban hat in tan, R349 from urbansupply.co.za
They call it the Nairobi Race Day Bag … but we think it works just as well on safari. Melvill and Moon, in collaboration with Ardmore, have designed this elegant all-day bag, which includes divisions and pockets for your bird book, binoculars, hipflask, and cardi. R9500 from melvillandmoon.com
No nonsense flasks. We’re wild (had to!) about these Wild Coolers stainless steel flasks which can endure anything the outdoors has to throw at them. Double- walled vacuum insulation with a copper liner ensures your drinks stay as hot or cold as you fancy. For hours! A generous 1.8 L so they hold enough to keep you going most of the day. Plus … they come in forest green for our safari bag but also pink (we want!), charcoal, aqua, sea blue and stainless steel. R1250 from wildcoolers.com
Coffee stop en route. We fancy this Melvill and Moon vegetable tanned leather case – handstitched and with solid brass buckles and fittings – which has four inner compartments which can fit two flasks as well as space for all the ingredients for a coffee stop anywhere you fancy. Ideal for picnics and game drives. R5950 (doesn’t include flasks or cup), from melvillandmoon.com
Raised on Sicilian family stories and the constant bustle of his father’s Italian restaurant in the heart of Joburg, Mario Cesare grew up rooted in tradition. But his heart was elsewhere. From an early age, he was drawn to open spaces and the untamed edges of the world beyond the city. Nature was never a passing fascination … it was a calling that refused to be ignored.
That calling led him deep into South Africa’s most prestigious game reserves, Thornybush, Mala Mala, Olifants, where beauty and brutality exist side by side. As a game ranger on the front lines of conservation, Mario faced the grim realities behind Africa’s wildlife tourism … armed poachers, mutilated animals, and the constant emotional toll of protecting what cannot protect itself. Mario’s journey is one of courage, heartbreak and unwavering commitment. Tracks In The Dust is not a romanticised tale of the bush, but a raw, honest account of what it truly means to live the life of a game ranger in South Africa. Jonathan Ball Publishers, R340
